LOS ANGELES, CA (October 18, 2018) – The 2018 Visionary Ball benefited the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery, Thursday, October 18, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The evening featured award-winning television, film and theater personality, Rob Lowe, who received the Icon Award. U.K. pop sensation, singer/songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performed and EXTRA’S Tanika Ray emceed the evening. Other guests included: Chris Pratt, Larry David, Sherry Lansing, Robert Shapiro, “Doc” Rivers, and John Salley, as well as Susan Dolgen and honoree Edie Baskin Bronson, who served as co-chairs.

The evening raised crucial funds and awareness in support of those who battle the most complex neurological problems that face millions today. Dr. Linda Liau, chair of the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery, shared her vision of next generation innovations and highlighted UCLA’s numerous neurosurgery milestones.

“We are focused every day on extending the frontiers of knowledge, increasing our understanding of the brain and spine, and advancing treatments for a full range of neurological conditions. We are consistently inspired by the courage of our patients as they face complex and often life-threatening challenges, while entrusting us with their clinical care,” said Liau.

Rob Lowe: Icon Award

Rob Lowe and the entire audience were treated to a big surprise. Chris Pratt, a veteran of blockbuster films, even bigger sequels and hit TV shows, presented Lowe with the Icon Award. Lowe’s iconic career spans four decades in film, television and theater. Also an acclaimed author, he has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, six Golden Globes and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, of which he won two. Lowe most recently wrapped Season Three of the network medical drama Code Black and is currently starring in and directing a remake of the four-time Academy Award-nominated film The Bad Seed. Read more about the Icon Award »

John C. Mazziotta, MD, Ph.D.: Medical Visionary Award

Dr. Mazziotta has served as Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health since March 2015. A member of the UCLA Faculty since 1983, he previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor for health sciences and Executive Vice Dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Chair of the UCLA Department of Neurology, and Director of the Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, which he founded. He received his award from Dr. Liau. Read more about the Medical Visionary Award »

Edie Baskin Bronson and Skip Bronson: Visionary Award

When NBC’s Saturday Night Live premiered in 1975, Edie Baskin’s original, hand-tinted portraits of the guest hosts and title sequences established the show’s signature graphic style. In 1976 her work garnered two Emmy nods and became SNL’s visual trademark. In 1982, she was again nominated for her work on the title sequence of CBS’s Square Pegs, and in 2015, she was honored with an Emmy for her work on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.

Skip Bronson is Chairman of The Bronson Companies, a real estate development and advisory firm based in Beverly Hills. A member of the UCLA Neurosurgery Advisory Board, he is a frequent guest on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and Bloomberg TV, and the best-selling author of The War at the Shore.

Brian Lee: Visionary Award

Lee is the Managing Director of BAM Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm he co-founded in 2014, which focuses on seed investing in some of the most innovative start-ups throughout the world. He co-founded, with Jessica Alba, The Honest Company; then he co-founded LegalZoom and ShoeDazzle. Lee graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Economics and Business from UCLA, and received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law.

Renowned attorney and fellow Bruin Robert Shapiro presented the award to Lee. Read more about the Visionary Award »

Felice L. Loverso, PhD: Luminary Award

Dr. Loverso, Chief Executive Officer and President of Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, was honored for his leadership of Casa Colina. Dr. Loverso spoke about the longstanding partnership between UCLA Neurosurgery and Casa Colina and shared a moving story about his own experience as a patient at UCLA.

Loverso received the award from Tina Odjaghian, a member of the UCLA Neurosurgery Board of Advisors, and Dr. Nader Pouratian, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs. Read more about the Luminary Award »

ABOUT UCLA NEUROSURGERY

For more than two decades, UCLA Neurosurgery has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top programs in the nation. Under Dr. Liau’s leadership, UCLA Neurosurgery continues to provide the finest and most comprehensive patient care through innovative clinical programs in minimally invasive brain and spinal surgery, neuro-endoscopy, neuro-oncology for both adult and pediatric brain tumors, cerebrovascular surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery for brain and spinal disorders, surgery for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy surgery.